Automatic drifting-valve system



Oct. 27 1925.

C. O. MIKLE AUTOMATIC DRIFTING VALVE SYSTEI I Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo.22, 1920 AUTOMATIC DRIFTING VALVE SYSTEM Filed Dec.l 22, 19204SheetsSheet 5 A Tr'y Oct. 27 1925.

C. O. MIKLE AUTOMATIC DRIFTING VALVE SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /NvE/vraR:

Filed Dec. 22, 1920 temperature is shut offV from engines; thecylinders', valveA chambersand interior-rre-r Patented Oct. 27, r1925.

- vC Isfiirw-N @allies OOQRTLAND miroiterie `,nitrietrive-viavia .einemfue# www .2s 1.92@ Serial N- 43am Valve Systems,k olf which'tliefollowing isVV a specification, reference lacing Ahad to-the ac#companying drawings.

MyY invention relates l to automatically functioning valves as ka class.

V I't'isfwell known that when stepain of high latedfparts havingAloecome highly heated, the 'lubricating oil' will carboni'ze andcauseinuch damageto these partis, as well fa'sre* l v'view of thestructu'ieasillustrated in Figl'2.

quiring an excess 0f poivertoagain operette lthe engine, hence a;greatdessin-fuel.' Also that the presence of' steam Yat anytemperaturein contact withtlie'se parts- -will 'spreg vent this carboniz'ation.lThe Apurposeofjmy system is to overcome this'carloo'i'iiZat'i'on. Itwillloe seen that it isfa'ccomplishedi b" f a vcombinationoffourvalvesso arra-ngedt at -when the engine steam is shut off, 'thesystem automatically admitsI steamf at yadow "pressure upon thepartsudesii'e'dlfera pre- `determine dtime, such as rwould allowthose'parts to cool below the flashfpoint oflthe lubricating oils, andthus'prevent Lcarboni-y Zatioii thereof. Also to aiitoinaticallylshut'off the boiler 1steam through; the system to said 'parts` when theenginef is started,A iff before the lapse of the pre-determined time.`The system provides an efficient means to vadmit steam automaticallyupon such parts onlyvas long as desired? there.` Vliile' it` is verywell vadapted forV locomotives vdrifting along withsteain shutoff, it isquite 'as well adapted -for any Vother Vengines using `steam forino-tive power.

The object of my invention isvto provider a.v valve system which will"automatically opento'and admit steam ofi a'des'ired quantity and?.temperature from'a supply source-f` jinto engine cylinders whe'nyvtheoperatingV steam/thereinV is shut hoff?. alsoito automatically` close tosaid cylinders whenv the operating steam is againadm'itted into them'.purpose of my device'is to prevent carboni- Zation of lubricating oilswithin the cylinders and relatedy lparts', when vthe engine throttle isshut off. 4This object, aswell as The Fig. l isa sectional elevation onthe-line l`*l"in' Figs. 2-aiidj3.

Fig'. 2 is an upper plan view of tlievalve system."

' .Fg- 3 iS a. light end View oftheJ device las Shown' in` Figrc. i

(Eig. sa :horizontal sectional View of parts on thelin'e 4-J4ji'n'-Fig"'Fig vis an enlarged yiew of timingvalfve in' tlieqlower portion offFg-1- vin Fig.- 5. f y

Fig.' 7 (is a horizontal,L central sectional Figs isfadetail viewjoflt-liendjo'fithe pistonr22.

`Fign) isla view-illustratinga locomotive vin dotted lines' withtliefdev'ice arranged l`system""there isi .a xtiming 'cylinder fr",p'rovided with a` Yhead 8,*havingfafi application 'port 9"there'in.The'fcy'l'i'nder 17 also" Y`has a port l0 near its oppositenendiandaf'sinall ltandem cylinder-l l1, r`having a. concentric head 11a, saidvhead connectingwithtliev tandem xapplication cylinder 12.` This cylinder'has-ports 13 and' l'inf'thelower sideand (lkiead thereof, and asmallvcentral cylinder 114, extending from' it.v to al valve chamber' 15beyond. AThe'c hamloer'15has a valveseat ilev charactersrefer to'likellpartsin the 16 oiifthe inner endof va centrallpassjage 17,

extending y. outwardly Jfroin the chamber to va receiving portlS,adaptedtofhe 'connected to 'a pipeextendingifroma desired sourcejofsteamsupply.y 'The chamber li'also hasv` a The pertuisavv porty 18a' o nthe lower side. is adapted toreceive a.k pipe 18beXtending 'from theenginecyli'nder's' or v'alve'c'liambers, and the portvlS to 'receivealpipelSbffeX- tending to -a connection with the' pfipe' 18".

.Inthecylinder' is' a timing piston! rod' 19 hawingv a piston Qt)onffoiie fend, daib'le i in the 'cylinder'Z and la reduced piston2:11011 its` opposite end; slidablefinithe cylinderll,

making-a differential pistonjin these'cyvlin.-

ders. ln thel cylinder 12 is a piston 22, centrally connected to apiston 23, slidable in the cylinder 14. The piston 22 has lugs 22a onits end, positioned to engage the end of the cylinder 12 and prevent thepiston from closing the cylinder 11 or the port 13, and thus allow afree passage of steam between the port and cylinder.

In central Contact with the hub 24 on piston 23, is a disc admissionvalve 25, adapted to engage the seat 16. At one side of the main partjust described, is the timing piston operating mechanism, see Fig. 4.Therein is a cylinder' 26, having a head 27 at one end, with a port 27nin this head, and a central tandem cylinder 23 extending from theopposite end of the cylinder to a valve chamber 29, having oppositelydisposed valve seats 30 and 31 therein. A port 32 extends from the valveseat 31, and is adapted to receive a pipe 32a extending from a desiredsource of steam supply. rlhe pipe 32a shown in Fig. 9 connects the ports18 and 32 and the boiler of the locomotive outlined, and has a valve32'). The valve is continuously open when the mechanism is in operativeposition and is closed only to stop operation, for repairs or emergency.The valve chamber 29 also has an upper port 33, from which a connectingpipe 34 extends to the port 9 of the timing cylinder 7 and a lower port35, connecting with the exhaust cavity of the engine cylinders, or tothe atmosphere. The port 27EL is connected by a pipe 36 with the port13L of the application cylinder 12. Inv the cylinder 26 is a piston 37,centrally connected with piston 33, slidable in the cylinder 28, thelatter piston having a central hub contact with double disc valves 40and 41, adapted to engage their opposing seats 30 and 31 respectively,and movable in the valve chamber 29.

Below the cylinder 7 is the adjustable timing` mechanism securedthereon. It has a valve body 42, with a valve chamber 43 therein,opening` to the port 10 o12 the cylinder 7, and a returning valve 44which seats in a port' 45. The valve 44 is provided with a coil spring46to return it into its seat.

The port 45 is connected with a pipe 45a, which extends to a watersupply in the boiler from which the aforesaid steam supply is derived,preferably midway between the bottom and minimum low water line therein.The valve body 42 also has therein a timing valve 47, which seats in aport 48, also opening from the port 10 of the cylinder and adjacent tothe opening of the chamber 43 into the same port. The valve 47 may begrooved as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to regulate a desired flow throughit. The stem of the valve 47 is provided with adjusting means 49 wherebythe valve may be caused to enter its seat at the end of a predeterminedtime.

Assume now that my value system device is connected with a source ofwater and steam supply in a boiler furnishing steam to the cylinders ofan engine, and is also connected with all these cylinders, as indicatedin the description of parts. 1n this operative situation the pistons andvalves are shown in Figs. 1 and 4 in the positions they have when thethrottle is open and the engine is running under power. In other wordsthe device is then neutral. The dotted line positions of the pistons andvalves show the changes they assume.

The operation will now be described. 7hen the throttle is open to admitoperating steam to the engine cylinders and valve chambers, the steamalso proceeds from them through the pipe connections indicated, andthrough the ports 16FL and 13 into the cylinder 12 and chamber 15, alsothrough the pipe 36 into the cylinder 26, where it impinges on thepistons 22 and 37, causing their pistons to move the valves 25 and 4l ontheir opposing ends into the respective seats 16 and 31. This preventsthe admission of any steam through the ports 18 and 32, resulting inshutting off the system and leaving the mechanism in the positionillustrated while the engine is in operation.

`When the throttle is closed, the steam in the engine cylinders, andconsequently in cylinders 12 and 26, because of their connectionsthrough ports 18 and 13, immediately decreases in pressure until thetotal pressure against the large pistons 22 and 37 is less than thetotal pressure against the valves 25 and 41, with boiler pressureagainst them on the opposing side, on account o their dilerence in area.The valves 25 and 41 then move from their seats and move pistons 22 and37 forward, thus allowing steam from the boiler to flow through ports 13and 32, and :trom the chamber 15 through port 18EN to the enginecylinders and valve chambers, and from these back through port 13 to thecylinder 12, thence through the pipe 36 into the cylinder 26. The steamthen impinges on the large pistons 22 and 37, and the condition isproduced of a maintained steam pressure equal to the difference in theareas of the piston 22 and valve 25.

Simultaneously, steam passing through port 32 forces the valve 40 intoits seat and allows steam at boiler pressure to proceed through port 33,thence through pipe 34 and port 9. However, because the dili'erence inthe areas of the valve 40 and piston 37 is greater than the differencein the areas ot' pistons 22 and 23, the valves 40 and 41 will remainopen until steam is again admitted to the cylinders and valveJ chambersby opening of the engine throttle.

It will be further apparent that there is a difference in areas ofpistons 2O and 21, so

1g-esame proportioned 'that boiler steam pressure ibetween cylinder head8 and Vpiston. 20, enthe Itotal area ofthe latter, will be greater :thanboiler -wafter pressure between pistons 20 and '5 21, plus the steampressure then xmaintained in cylinder 1,2, and actingagaifnst'piston 21,while .the throttle closed and -steam vis admitted through ports 18, 18aand-13,and controlled by va'lve v25 and differential :pis-

10 tons 22 and'23.V Then,by reason of the difference in the areas ofpistons 20 and 2l, and the action of the water in pressing against both,these 'pistons lwill be forced forward, (to 'the right in Fig. 1), at alrate which can be contro'lled'by restricting the escape of the waterfrom the space between the piston-s vand 21. This restricted escape isaccomplished Yas fo'llows. As the pistons 20 and 21 begin moving,,pressure 20 higher than that in the boiler is ,temporarily created onwater in the space 'between pistons 2O and 21. VThis pressure, .aided byreturning valve -springd6, 4closes' 'return valve Letland; opens timingvalve 47. Thereupon vwater in cylinder '7 -is oreedthrough the groovedvalve 47 in port 48, and pipe 45a, Vback into the boiler vat a rategoverned by timing valve adjusting-means/lQ, lso that, in apre-determined -rtime, suflicient to allow engine cylinders,`valvechambers kand parts to cool below Vthetemperature of carbonizaition, .the -movemei'itof pistons20 and 21 will cause pistons f22-and .23to move forward, and lin turn, pistonv 22 `-will 'force valve 25 tolitsseat, -thus'shutting-ofl' the steam from n port 18 tothe 'enginecylindersand valve chambers, andthe `spring of--adjustingrmeans Y 49Will-'close the Avalve-9&7. -Pistons20fandf21,

`with pistons f22-andf-23, yWill Lthenl remain. in f 40 this position,lbeing shown in fdotted-linesyy until-steam is again admittedbyl'theengine lthrottle, v-when the pressure from `the engine cylindersand `valve chambers proceeding through ports 13,13" and127,causesp'iston 57 to seat/the valve 11,=therebyshutting-off steam fromthe port 32'to port33,andropen ing the way from ports-33 and 35 :to ythe"cylinder'exhaust or to the atmosphere, thus -relievingthe pressure`on'the opposingside of piston-20, which, aided by steam pressure in thecylinder 12 upon thepiston 21, causesA pistons20 and .21-to moverearward, with Vinsutlicient remaining water below boi-ler pressure inrthe I cylinder -to fiill :the enlarging 55 -space therein between-thepistons 20 andi21.

llater at `boiler pressure then proceeds zinto` the partial vacuumcreatedthere, through! ypipe 45, opens valve 44,1 passe'szthroughgmanner whenthe throttle is closed).

I claimil, ln locomotive-drifting valve mechanism, the combination of' a:drifting valve `cylinder -with ya -sourcelo'f- -stea1n,a valveregulating the escape of the. fluid inthe -timing cylinder for varyingthe time for `completing the strokeof the piston.

-anism,1the `combination of' a drifting valve `the driftingvalve,comprising apiston con- .neeted With the nvalveqand Aacted upon byl ingcylinder, a timing piston movable inthe cylinder .provided with means tocause operation of the .drifting val-ve piston for actuating thedrifting valve to closing .position, means for admitting fluid tothetlmmg cylinder forresisting movement of the ytiming piston, a conduitconnecting the timing cylinder `with `a source of steam, a valvecontrolli-ng the flow ofl steam tljurough said conduit, andmeansiconnected with .the valve and actuated Nbyltlie steamfronrtheengine cylinder :when .the throttle is closed for .clos- S5 ingsaid last mentioned-valve.

'2.-In a locomotive` drifting valve Amechanism, the combination of adrifting valve "for `controlling the, admission a limited quantity ofsteam toy the enginecylinder, wwhenthe throttle is closed,andmeansfforcontrolling the .durationaof the Lopenin'g of .the/drifting valve,comprising ja piston connected yWith the `valve and Aacted auponby thesteam fromtheengine cylinder for closingfgthe valve when v.the .throttleis yclosed, a timing cylinder, a ytim-ing pist-on'kmovab'le `inthecylinder provided withmeans to cause operation `ofthe drifting` valvepiston for *actuating* the drifting valve `tol closing. position. meansffor admitting fluidto the timing cylinder for resisting` :movement: oflthe timing piston, a conduit connecting the .timing controlli-ngL theflow lof steamfthrough'said conduit, :means connected Awith a valvevandvactuated bythe-steam from' the. engine cylinder when fthe throttle isclosed {fonc-losing said-lastVV mentloned '.valve, and means :for

In-a locomotive drifting `valve mech- `for controlling-the admission ofa limiterlf-115 -quantity.of. steam-to the engine cylinder when thethrottle i .is' lclosed, andiv means for controlling-*the duration ofthe--openingof the steam:fromftheengine cylinder Avfor clos- -ingrthe-val-vewhen :the throttle isclosed, a timing cylinder, a timing pistonmovable rin the cylinder provided lWithlmeanszto cause foperation /ofjthe drifting valve v.piston for Aactuating the `drifting valve to closedposi- :`:ti'on, said a cylinder being 1in `communication :with theboiler .wateri ofthe locomotive, kwith said. water4 resisting ,operativemovement :of lthe piston, andrfmeans :for-restricting thei for causing'closing of the valve in the con dischar'ge of the Water from saidcylinder when the piston is operated, a conduit connecting the timingcylinder with a source of steam, a valve controlling the flow of steamthrough said conduit, and means connected with the valve and actuated bythe steam from the engine cylinder when the throttle is closed forclosing said last mentioned valve.

4. In a. locomotive drifting valve mechanism, the combination of adrifting valve controlling the admission of a limited quantity of steamto the engine cylinder when the throttle is closed, a source of steamdirectly acting on the valve for opening said valve and admitting steamto the engine cylinders, and means for controlling the duration of theopening of the drifting valve, comprising a cylinder, a piston movablein said cylinder and connect-ed With the valve, means connecting thecylinder with the source of steam for admitting steam to said cylinderwhen the drifting valve is open, a timing cylinder, a timing pistonmovable in the cylinder and provided With means to cause operation ofthe drifting valve piston for actuating' the drifting valve to closingposition, a conduit connecting the timing cylinder with the source ofsteam, a differential piston, a valve. operated by the differentialpiston for controlling` the flow of steam through the conduit, and aconduit connected With the first mentioned cylinder for directing steamagainst one portion of the differential piston for causing closing ofthe valve in the conduit which connects the timing cylinder with thesource of steam.

5. In a locomotive drifting valve mechanism, the combination of adrifting valve controlling the admission of a limited quantity of steamto the engine cylinder when the throttle is closed, a source of steamdirectly acting on the valve for opening said valve and admitting steamto the engine cylinders, and means for controlling the.

duration of the opening of the drifting valve, comprising a cylinder, apiston movable in said cylinder and connected with the valve, meansconnecting the cylinder with the source of steam for admitting steam tosaid cylinder When the drifting valve is open, a timing cylinder, atiming piston movable in the cylinder and provided with means to causeoperation of the drifting valve piston for actuating the drifting valveto closing position, a conduit connecting the timing` cylinder With thesource of steam, a differential piston carrying a valve for controllingthe flow of steam through the conduit, and a conduit connected with thefirst mentioned cylinder for directing steam against one portion of thedifferential piston duit which connects the timing cylinder with thesource of steam, said timing cylinder being in communication with a Huidsupply, means for admitting fluid to the timing cylinder for resistingoperative movement of the timing piston.

6. In a locomotive drifting valvemechanism, the combination of a,drifting valve controlling the admission of a limited quantity of steamto the engine cylinders When the throttle is closed, a source of steamdirectly acting on the valve for opening said valve and admitting steamto the engine cylinders, and meansl for controlling the duration of theopening of the drifting valve, comprising a cylinder, a piston movablein said cylinder and connected with the valve, means comiecting thecylinder with the source of steam for admitting steam to said cylinderwhen the drifting valve is open, a timing cylinder, a timing pistonmovable in the cylinder and provided with mea-ns to cause operation ofthe drifting valve piston for actuating the drifting valve to closingposition, a conduit connecting the timing cylinder with the source ofsteam, a differential piston carrying a valve for controlling the flowof steam through the conduit, and a conduit connected With the firstmentioned cylinder for directing steam against one portion of thedifferential piston for causing closing of the valve in Vthe conduitWhich connects the timing cylinder with the source of steam, said timingcylinder being in communication with a fluid supply, means for admittingfluid to the timing cylinder for resisting operative movement of thetiming piston, means for regulating' the discharge of the iiuid from thetiming cylinder for controlling the time of the stroke of the piston.

7. In a locomotive drifting valve mechanism, the combination of adrifting valve controlling the admission of a limited quantity of steamto the engine cylinder when the throttle is closed, a. source of steamdirectly acting on the valve for opening said valve and admitting steamto the engine cylinders, and means for controlling the duration of theopening of the drifting valve, comprising a cylinder, a piston movablein said cylinder and connected with the valve, means connecting thecylinder with the source of steam for admitting steam to said cylinderWhen the drifting valve is open, a timing' cylinder, a. timing pistonmovable in the cylinder and provided With means to cause operation ofthe drifting valve piston for actuating the drifting' valve to closingposition, a conduit connecting the timing cylinder With the source ofste-am, a differential piston carrying a valve for controlling the flowof steam through the conduit, and a conduit connected With the firstmentioned cylinder for directing steam against one portion of thedifferential piston for causing closing of the valve in the conduitwhich connects the timing cylinder with the source of steam, a cylinderconnecting the timing cylinder with the first `mentioned cylinder, apiston, movable in the 'connecting cylinder and forming the operatingmeans for the drifting valve piston, the steam under' pressure which lisadmitted to the cylinder of the drifting valve piston being adapted toact upon the last mentioned piston for forcing the timing piston to itsnormal inoperative position.

S. In a locomotive drifting valve mechanism, the combination of adrifting valve controlling the admission of a limited quantity of steamto the engine vvcylinders when the throttle is closed, al valve chamberto receive the drifting valve, a source of steam connected with thechamber and directly acting on the valve for opening said valve andadmitting steam to the enginecylinders, and means for controlling theduration of the opening of the drifting valve, comprising a cylinderconnected with the chamber for admitting steam to said cylinder, apiston movable in said cylinder and connected with the valve, a timingcylinder, a timing piston movable in the cylinder and provided p withmeans to cause operation of the drifting valve piston actuating thedrifting valve to closing p-osition, a conduit connecting the timingcylinder with the source of steam, a differential piston carrying avalve for controlling the flow yof steam through the conduit with thesource of steam acting upon the valve to open the same, and a conduitconnected With the first mentioned cylinder for directing steam againstone face of the dierential pist-on for causing closing of the valve inthe conduit 'which connects the timing cylinder With the source ofsteam, said timing cylinder being in com-V munication with a fluidsupply, means for admitting fluid to the timing cylinder whereby saidfluid Will resist operative movement of the timing piston, and means forregulating the discharge of the fluid from the timing'cylinder andcontro-lling the time of the stroke of the piston when the steamadmitted to the timing cylinder operates the timing piston.

9. In a locomotive drifting valve mechanism, the combination of adrifting valve controlling the admission of a limited quantity of steamto the engine cylinders when the throttle is closed, a valve chamber toreceive the drifting valve, a source of steam connected with the chamberand directly acting on the valve for opening said valve and admittingsteam to the engine cylinders, and means for controlling the duration ofthe opening of the drifting valve, comprising a cylinder connected Withthe valve chamber for admitting steam to said cylinder, a piston movablein said cylinder and connected with the valve, a timing cylinder, atiming piston movable in the cylinder and providedl with means to causeoperation of the drifting valve piston actuating the drifting valve toclosing position, a conduit connecting the timing cylinder with thesource of steam, a dierential piston carrying a valve for controllingthe flow of steam through the conduit with the source of steam actingupon the valve to open the same, and a conduit connected with the firstmentioned cylinder for directing steam against one face of thedifferential piston for causing closing of the valve in the conduitWhich connects the timing cylinder with the source of steam, said timingcylinder being in communication with a fluid supply, means for admittingfluid to the timing cylinder whereby said fluid Will resist operativemovement of the timing piston, and means for regulating the discharge ofthe fluid from the timing cylinder and controlling the time of thestroke of the piston when the steam admitted to the timing cylinderoperates the timing piston, the steam under pressure which is admittedto the cylinder of the drifting valve piston being adapted to act uponthe means connected With the timing piston'when the throttle is open forforcing the timing piston to its normal inoperative position.

CLINTON O. MIKLE.

